And we also won’t be plagued by our own inner weakness – no more sin, no more selfishness, pride, envy, lust, or anxiety.
3. The Nearness of Glorification
While our souls are glorified the moment we die and will never sin again, we only receive our glorified bodies at the resurrection. Old Testament saints and Christians who have died, will receive their glorified bodies at the rapture. All Christians alive at the time of the rapture will receive their glorified bodies at that time too: they will be changed in the “twinkling of an eye.”
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
So what happens in the meantime? What happens to Christians who die now?
The Bible is very clear that when we die we are instantly with Jesus:
Paul in Philippians 1:23: “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better,” and 2 Corinthians 5:8: “we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Jesus to the thief on the cross:
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
But it seems that, until rapture, we remain souls, we are still conscious and can communicate (Revelation 6:9 and 20:4), but what we look like until the rapture—no one knows for sure.
Conclusion
This doctrine of glorification is only glorious for those who are God’s children. If you are not a Christian, you too will receive an eternal body with which you will suffer in hell for eternity. But the good news is that you have the opportunity right now to believe that Jesus took the punishment for your sin when he died on the cross, turn in repentance to God. You can be justified today, sanctified for the rest of your life, and eventually glorified.
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.
